Jtoldable shipping - box



Nov- 9 i926.

` 1,606,011 N. Fa. W'ILLlAMSQN FQLDABLE SHIPPINGBOX I Filed Dec. 1l. 1925 A2 Sheets-Shea*` 2 gnou/Hoz:

fig. /i WELSOA( W/LLIAMSOA[;

Patented Nov.. 9, 1926.

Uhlipf NELSON R. 1WILLC.ZfalVISON,

OF EQRTLND, INDANA.

FOLDABLE SHIPPING- BOX.

Application led December l1, 1925. `Serial No. 74,7%.

The object of my present invention, broadly speaking, is to provide a collapsible or folding box, which is especially intended for enclosing a burial casket, having means whereby the box can be returned to the sender in folded condition whereby it will occupy but a. minimum amount of space, that is it can be returned in K. D. or flat condition, thereby reducing the carrying charges thereon, and having means whereby it can be easily opened and closed by the parties sending or receiving it.` The construction as shown is also adapted to retain the goods in secure position within the box, whereby they can not become damaged in shipment, and also providing a construeq tion which can be maufactured and sold at a comparatively low price. i

rThe preferred means for carrying out the principles of my invention in a practical manner is shown in the acompanying two* sheets of drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation of my box in extended or operative condition. Figure 2 is an elevation of one end of my box. Figure is a. cross section, as taken on Vthe line 3*?) of Figure 1. Figure i is a longitudinal section, as taken on the line of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the lid clamping devices. Figure 6 is a plan of a portion of the lid, showing the means for hinging said device thereto. Fig ure 'l' is a. perspective view of one portion of said clamping device.v Figure 8 is a side view of the box folded. `Figure 9 is an end view of the box folded. Figure 10 is a detail of part of one side of one'of the corner members, and Figure 11 is the same as taken at right angles thereto. Figure 12 shows a portion Aof one of the hinged supports. Figure 13 is a cross section of .one of the lower corners of the box, showing the hinged support in connection therewith. Figure la vention may be more fully understood and appreciated I will now take up a detailed `description thereof, in which l will set forth .the same as comprehensively as l may.

proper comprises The enclosure, or box, twomain sides, 1 and 2.

Numeral B-dcnotes the bottom. Numeral 4 denotes the top and numerals 5 and 6 denotethe two 'ends of the box.

The sides 1 and 2 do not extend down to the bottom 3 but they rest on the'respective side-strips 7 and 8, the former being of less height than the latter, and they are both of the same thickness as are the said sides. The said strips 7 and S are rigidly secured vto the top surface of the bottom 3, and are' located at the edges and extend `the full length thereof, wit-h the ends 5 and 6' 'lo-v cated therebetween. v

The lower edges of each of the ends 5 and 6 are lhinged to the surface of the boti contact with said sides when the lid is in operative position, as in Figs, l, 2 and All of said parts are, in this instance, shown as of wood construction, and the remainder of the parts herein mentioned are of metal construction, except the two crossbars hereinafterv described. However I am not to-be limited to the materials as described, but various parts may be made of any suitable material as desired.,

Each of the corners is protected by an angular metal corner member', as shown Vin Figs. 10 and 11, which are made on an en larged scale from that of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each of the corner members is denoted by numeral 13, one portion of which ,contacts with a side, and the wider portion contacts Vwith the ends of the sides, and laps over the end members as shown. The lower portion of `the corner member is hinged to a foot member 111, by means of a pivot 15. rllhe foot members are secured to the strips 7, and 8, and the bottom 3, and enclose parts thereof as indicated. AThe members 13 and 14, secured together by the pivot 15, are arranged alternately with relation to each other at each end of the box, that is the member 14 is on the outside of one and on the inner side of the other; this is in order that the members 13 at one end may pass each other when the box is folded, as in Figs. 8 and 9.

The box thus formed is, in this instance, adapted to contain a burial casket A, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

In order to clamp the casket A in position, and to provide further hinging means for the sides 1 and 2, and to brace the box and provide further strength thereto, I provide the following means, Ashown most clearly in Figs. 12 and 13, there being one set of such means at each end portion of the box, and each comprises a bar 16, which extends across underneath the bottom 3, with its end portions turned up at right angles, passing up through the bottom 2 and against the inner sides of the -strips 7 and 8, each forming a member 1 7 integral with lthe bar 16. Numeral 18 denotes the respective bars secured to the inner faces of the sides 1 and 2, with their lower ends hinged at 19 to the respective members 17, as shown in Fig. 13. The bars 18 extend at angles from `near their hinge connection toward the end and the top of the box, and near the upper` end of each a slot 2() is formed therethrough and extending parallel therewith, as shown in Fig. 4.

Numeral 2 1 denotes the connecting rods 7 each having an elongated head 22 on one end,

as shown in Fig. 17, which when turned longitudinally thereof will enter the slot 20, and then when the rod is turned parallel with its bar 18 the head will be locked in position therein. The outer portion of the rod 21 is threaded, with a nut 23 adapted to run thereon. The companion of each rod 21 is in the natureof a fiat bar 24, but it also has an elongated head 22 formed on one end thereof, but the opposite end thereof is provided with a row of apertures 25, shown in Fig. 4, forming a row parallel with the bar.

Atene end of the box there is a rod 21 on one side with a bar 24 at the other side, and the same is true at the other end of the box, that is, there is a rod 21 and a bar 24 on each side of the box.

Numeral 26 denotes the clamping bars, there being two in number, one at each end of the box, as shown in Fig. 4. One end of each clampfbar is provided with a hook 27 which is adapted to engage'in either of the apertures 25.4 The other end of each clampbar 26 has an aperture l28 therethrough to receive the threaded end of a rod 21 with a washer-plate 29. secured around said aperture.

From the above it will be seen thatone end of each clamp bar 26 is adapted to be secured by a rod 21 and the other end by a bar 24, whereby said bars 26 may be clamped tight against the angular upper portions of the ends of the casket A, whereby the casxet may be securely clamped in carrying condition.

Formed through the bottom are four, or more, round apertures 30, which are directly above a bottom bar 16, and carried by said bars and extending up through each of said apertures 3Q is a pointed spur 81, which spurs extend a short distance'above the surface of the bottom 3, as shown. Said spurs are adapted to be forced into the bottom of the casket A, when the casket is resting` on the bottom 3, in which position the casket is shown in Fig. 4.

A t each corner of the box a notch 32 is formed in the upper edge of the sides 1 and 2, the same being in a line with the inner faces of the ends 5 and 6, as shown in Fig. 15. A pin 33 is driven into each end of cach of said sides, each of which pins .extend through the respect-ive notches 32, and the ieads of said pins, and also the outer ends of the notches 32, are covered by the upper portions of the respective corner members 13, as is shown.

In Fig. 14 is shown one of the four latches, one for each corner of the box. 'Each latch consists of a fiat bar 34, pivoted at 35 to the inner faces of the ends 5 and 6. A notch 36 is formed in the lower edge and near the outer end of the bar 34,v which notch is adapted to hook over its respective pin 33. Said bars 34, when in securing position, are located even lwith the upper edges of the ends 5 and 6, by'which it will be seen that when the top 4 is in place that it will prevent the latches from swinging upward out of engagement with the pin 33, yet when the lid is removed it will be very easy to turn the latches upward and release the sides from engagement with the ends.

Four or more lid securing devices or Vclampsare provided in this instance, to hold the lid in place on the body of the box, all of which are identical with that shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, which I will now describe:l IVhere each of said clamps is located there are two notches, 35 and 36,

Fig. 6, or a separate pivot member may be provided for each notch. A V -shaped meinber 38 is provided, whose end portions are bent at right angles thereto with the extreme ends forming eyes 39, through which the rod 37 is inserted, whereby the member 3S is pivoted to the lid. The other member of the clamp comprises a substantially U-shaped member having the two arms 4() and 41 which are parallel with each other. The lower ends of said arms terminate in the Ril straining the various hinges.

eyes 42 and 43, respectively, to engage in the respective staples 44 and 45, or similar means which are secured in the sides2, for instance whereby the lJ-shaped member is hinged to the side. The upper ends of the arms 40 and 41 are integrally connected by the central member 46 which is turned inward at right angles to the said arms, and it is adapted to engage overtluie edge of the top 4, as shown in Fig. 5. Screwed into the top of the lid 4 is an angular key 47, which is adapted to engage the free or inner end of the member 38.

ln Fig. 5 the clamp is shown in closed or locking condition, whereby the lid is secured in place. Now by giving the key 47 a half turn the member 38 will be released whereby it may be turned outward thereby releasing the member 46 and permitting it to be turned outward and downward, thereby releasing the lid or top 4.

ln practice the box is to be opened out as in Figs. l, 2 and 3, except the lid 4. The casket A is then placed in the box, with the spurs 3l sticking into the bottom thereof, the rods 21 and the bars 24 are then placed in connection with their respective members 18 by inserting the heads 22 in their slots 2O where they will be locked when said rods and bars are brought to operative position, as in Fig. 4. The bars 26 are then placed in position by lirst inserting` the hooks 27 in a suitable aperture 25 of the bars 24, then bringing said bars 26 across the upper angular edges of the casket inserting the threaded ends of the rods 21 in their apertures 20. Now by ruiming 'the nuts 23 on the rods 21 and then tightening them down intofirm contact with their plates 29, the caslret will be secured in shipping condition with no danger of its shifting around in transport. The lid is then placed in position, as in Fig. 3, then by closing the clamps as in Fig. 5 the casket will be ready for shipment. After the package has arrived at its destina-tion a reversal of said operation will free the casket and it can then be lifted from the box.

The box may now be placed in condition for return shipment as follows: The lid having been removed by .releasing the clamps shown in Fig. 5, the next movement will be to turn the latch bars 34 which will release the ends 5 and 6 from the sides. The ends are then turned inward toward each other to bring them flat on top of the bottom 3. rlhe sides i and 2 are then turned inward upon each other on top of the ends. On account of one of the strips, 7 and 8, being wider than the other it is apparent that the two sides may lay flat together without The top 4 is then turned upside down and placed on the sides, the bars 26 being placed in the space between ends 5 and 6.

In order to secure the parts together in foldedposition` two bolts, 48 and 49, are employed, as in Figs. 8 and 9. Said bolts are inserted through corresponding holes formed through the top, the sides, the ends and the bottom, and when said bolts are tightened it is apparent that all of said parts will be securely clamped together as shown.

lt should be noticed that when shipped extended that the cleats are on the under side and when folded said cleats should be on outside. rlhis makes the package more compact and more particularly it saves changing the shipping directions which are usually attached to the lid. ln this arrangement the shipping directions may be permanently placed on the upper and the lower side of the top which will change the directions by simply turning over the lid.

lt is to be understood that various changes may be made in the several details herein shown without departing from the spirit of the invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof which are new and useful and which involve invention.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is i l. A shipping box comprising a bottom, ends hinged to the bottom, sides hinged to the bottom, the ends and the sides being adapted to fold inward over and parallel with the bottom, a top cover for the box, means for detachably connecting the sides and the ends together at each corner of the box including latches which are secured by the lid, cleats secured to the lid and contacting with the sides to retain the lid in place, braces extending underneath the bottom and extending upward at angles and secured to the inner faces of the sides of the box, hinges formed in said braces at the lower edges of the sides, coupling means detachably connected with the upper ends of said braces, and abar connecting each two of said coupling means at each end of the box for securing goods in position in the box.

2. A foldable box including a bottom, strips extending up from the edges of the sides of the bottom, one of said strips being wider than the other, a side member restino' on each of said strips and extending upward to the same distance above the bottom, a corner member secured to each end of each of the sides, a foot member hinged to the lower end of each corner member and secured to the bottom and to the ends of said strips, an end member hinged to each end of the bottom and itting between the ends of the sides, latches for securing the upper portions of the ends and the sides, brace bars extending underneath the bottom and along the inner faces of the sides and hinged llO at the juncture o f the Asides with their respective strips, pointed spurs secured to that portion of each bruce' bal" which extends underneath the bottom with said spurs pro- 5 jectng upward through apertures in the bottom to engage the goods located in the box, a lid, clamps for detztohably connecting the lid :to the upper edges 'of the sides., mea-us for retaining the lid in ulnement with the body of the box, and means for securing goods Within the box.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification.

vNELSON R. WILLIAMSON. 

